The RP perspective: challenges and opportunities …

Dave Smith

External Affairs Manager (London) National Housing Federation

The RP perspective: challenges and opportunities

3 specific areas we should look at…

3 broader challenges to the sector…

Challenge:

1. Boroughs v Boris

“Whether there ought to be a federal government intrusted with the care of the common defense, is a question in the first instance, open for discussion; but the moment it is decided

in the affirmative, it will follow, that that government ought to be clothed with all the powers requisite to complete execution of its trust.”

Opportunity:

1. A Mature Relationship

Challenge:

2. Planning & NIMBYism

Opportunity:

2. Planning Zones & Willing

1990-91

1991-92

1992-93

1993-94

1994-95

1995-96

1996-97

1997-98

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-120

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

London Completions(all tenures)

Source: DCLG Live Table 232

Completions

Challenge:

3. Green Belt

Opportunity:

3. Honest Assessment Of Land Holdings…

“The reality is that a child in Haringey gets no welfare from the fact that five miles away in Barnet, there are 2,380 hectares of greenbelt land; or in Havering another 6,010 hectares...What greenbelts really seem to be is a very British form of discriminatory zoning, keeping the urban unwashed out of the Home Counties - and of course helping to turn houses into investment assets instead of places to live.

Building on greenbelt land would only have to be very modest to provide more than enough land for housing for generations to come: there is enough greenbelt land just within the confines of Greater London – 32,500 hectares – to build 1.6 million houses at average densities.”

Prof. Paul Cheshire LSE

3 Broader Considerations…

Source: Ipsos MORI Issues IndexWhat do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today?

May1997

May1998

May1999

May2000

May2001

May2002

May2003

May2004

May2005

May2006

May2007

May2008

May2009

May2010

May2011

May2012

May2013

May2014

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Unemployment

NHS Crime/ Law & Order

Race / immigration

Economy

1. This Graph…

1. This Graph…

May1997

May1998

May1999

May2000

May2001

May2002

May2003

May2004

May2005

May2006

May2007

May2008

May2009

May2010

May2011

May2012

May2013

May2014

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70Economy

Housing

Housing was not an election issue for most people in 2010

DefenceHousing

IraqPublic transport/ roads

AfghanistanProtect nat env./climate change

PenionsBenefits

Care for older peopleCrime/ law and order

UnemploymentTaxation

Asylum and immigrationEducation/ schools

HealthcareManaging the economy

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%3%3%3%3%

5%5%5%

7%7%

8%11%

12%14%

23%26%

32%

Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index

VOTE for Housing…

2. This Misconception…

Real London Lives

3. This phrase…“RPs”

Profit for Purpose Vehicles for change…

Dave SmithExternal Affairs Manager (London)

dave.smith@housing.org.uk